Some pictures are of my rescue greyhound/lurcher "Angel" enjoying life in South West England.
Angel came to us from the Dog's Trust rescue centre in the Summer of 2000. She had a bad limp on her front shoulder/leg when we took her on, and fortunately with treatment this became much less problematic enabling her to live a normal life and run very fast indeed.


In her later years she acquired kidney disease (the second most common cause of death in dogs I'm told ), and so in the winter of 2008/2009 as she steadily weakens we have been taking it just one precious day at a time. Angel died 23 January 2009 and the loss was all the more devastating given the fight she tried to win against the disease. It was a real pleasure to have had her as part of the family.
So run free beautiful Angel until we meet again, perhaps by Rainbow Bridge...

NB: If your dog is facing (CRF) Chronic Renal failure then do please visit http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/K9KIDNEYS
Another good information resource is at http://www.dogaware.com

And anyone anguishing over whether or not to get another dog might like to take heart from this tear-jerker of a poem:

“The Legacy”

(author unknown - perhaps Angel sent it to us...)

When humans die, they make a will
To leave their homes and all they have
to those they love.
I, too, would make a will if I could write:

"To some poor wistful, lonely stray
I leave my happy home,
My dish, my cosy bed, my cushioned chair, my toy.
The well loved lap, the gentle stroking hand,
the loving voice,
The place I made in someone's heart,
The love that at the last could help me to
a peaceful painless end
Held in loving arms.

If I should die, Oh do not say,
"No more a pet I'll have,
to grieve me by its loss"
Seek out some lonely, unloved dog
And give my place to him.

This is the legacy I leave behind -
'tis all I have to give."


(c) 2003-9 John Farrar. Images in this gallery may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without the written permission of the copyright holder.